Providing Audio Playback During a Conference Based on Conference System Source

ABSTRACT

In various embodiments, a system may include a first conferencing system with a first speaker and a second speaker. The first conferencing system may be coupled to a second conferencing system and a third conferencing system. In some embodiments, audio from the second conferencing system may be reproduced through the first speaker, and audio from the third conferencing system may be reproduced through the second speaker. In some embodiments, audio from various participants at various conferencing systems may be reproduced on audio system components relative to the location of participants at the conferencing system. For example, audio from a first participant on the left side of a camera at a second conferencing system may be reproduced through left side speakers at the first conferencing system.

PRIORITY

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/406,071 (“the '071 application), titled “Audio Based on SpeakerPosition and/or Conference Location”, which was filed on Apr. 18, 2006,and whose inventors were Michael L. Kenoyer and William V. Oxford, whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully andcompletely set forth herein.

The '071 application was a continuation-in-part of co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 11/252,188, titled “Video and Audio ConferencingSystem With Spatial Audio”, which was filed on Oct. 17, 2005 whoseinventors are Michael L. Kenoyer and William V. Oxford which claimsbenefit of priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/619,212titled “Video Conferencing Speakerphone”, which was filed Oct. 15, 2004,whose inventors are Michael L. Kenoyer, Craig B. Malloy, and Wayne E.Mock and which claims benefit of priority to provisional applicationSer. No. 60/676,918, titled “Audio and Video Conferencing”, which wasfiled May 2, 2005, whose inventors are Michael L. Kenoyer, Wayne Mock,and Patrick D. Vanderwilt and which claims benefit of priority toprovisional application Ser. No. 60/675,965 titled “Video and AudioConferencing System With Spatial Audio”, which was filed Apr. 29, 2005,whose inventors are Michael L. Kenoyer, Wayne E. Mock, and Craig B.Malloy and which claims benefit of priority to provisional applicationSer. No. 60/675,962 titled “Audio Based on Speaker Position and/orConference Location”, which was filed Apr. 29, 2005, whose inventor isMichael L. Kenoyer, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.

Additionally, the '071 application claimed priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 60/675,962 titled “Audio Based on SpeakerPosition and/or Conference Location,” which was filed Apr. 29, 2005,whose inventor is Michael L. Kenoyer, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forthherein.

Further, the '071 application also claimed priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application, Ser. No. 60/676,918, titled “Audio and VideoConferencing”, which was filed May 2, 2005, whose inventors are MichaelL. Kenoyer, Wayne Mock, and Patrick D. Vanderwilt, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completelyset forth herein.

Finally, the '071 application further claimed priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/675,965 titled “Video andAudio Conferencing System With Spatial Audio”, which was filed Apr. 29,2005, whose inventors are Michael L. Kenoyer, Wayne E. Mock, and CraigB. Malloy, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety asthough fully and completely set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to audio and, more specifically,to reproducing audio according to a speaker location.

2. Description of the Related Art

Videoconferencing may be used to allow two or more participants atremote locations to communicate using both video and audio. Eachparticipant location may include a videoconferencing system forvideo/audio communication with other participants. Eachvideoconferencing system may include a camera and microphone to collectvideo and audio from a first or local participant to send to another(remote) participant. Each videoconferencing system may also include adisplay and speaker to reproduce video and audio received from a remoteparticipant. Each videoconferencing system may also be coupled to acomputer system to allow additional functionality into thevideoconference. For example, additional functionality may include dataconferencing (including displaying and/or modifying a document for bothparticipants during the conference).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various embodiments, a system may include a first conferencing systemwith a first speaker and a second speaker. The first conferencing systemmay be coupled to a second conferencing system and a third conferencingsystem. In some embodiments, audio from the second conferencing systemmay be reproduced through the first speaker, and audio from the thirdconferencing system may be reproduced through the second speaker.

In some embodiments, audio from various other conferencing systems maybe distributed to various audio systems at a first conferencing systemto better enable the participants at that first conferencing system todiscern who is talking For example, audio from a first participant at asecond conferencing system may be reproduced through right speakers onan audio system at the first conferencing system. Audio from a secondparticipant at the second conferencing system may be reproduced throughleft speakers at the first conferencing system.

In some embodiments, audio from various participants at variousconferencing systems may be reproduced on audio system componentsrelative to the location of participants at the conferencing system. Forexample, audio from a first participant on the left side of a camera ata second conferencing system may be reproduced through left sidespeakers at the first conferencing system, and audio from a secondparticipant on a right side of the camera at the second conferencingsystem may be reproduced through right side speakers at the firstconferencing system. In some embodiments, if the first and secondparticipants are displayed on the video screen at the same time, audiomay be reproduced through speakers at the first conferencing systemrelative to the location of the participant who is speaking at thesecond conferencing system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained when thefollowing detailed description is considered in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 a illustrates a videoconferencing system, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 1 b illustrates an embodiment of a three conferencing systemscoupled through a network;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a first conferencing system;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a second conferencing system;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a third conferencing system;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a fourth conferencing system;

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of reproducing an audio signal in a videoconferencing system component relative to a location of the audio signalsource, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of receiving an audio signal and locationinformation for reproduction of the audio signal, according to anembodiment.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription thereto are not intended to limit the invention to theparticular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims. Note, the headings are for organizational purposes only and arenot meant to be used to limit or interpret the description or claims.Furthermore, note that the word “may” is used throughout thisapplication in a permissive sense (i.e., having the potential to, beingable to), not a mandatory sense (i.e., must). The term “include”, andderivations thereof, mean “including, but not limited to”. The term“coupled” means “directly or indirectly connected”.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Incorporation by Reference

U.S. Patent Application titled “Speakerphone”, Ser. No. 11/251,084,which was filed Oct. 14, 2005, whose inventor is William V. Oxford ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully andcompletely set forth herein.

U.S. Patent Application titled “Video Conferencing System Transcoder”,Ser. No. 11/252,238, which was filed Oct. 17, 2005, whose inventors areMichael L. Kenoyer and Michael V. Jenkins, is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forthherein.

U.S. Patent Application titled “Speakerphone Supporting Video and AudioFeatures”, Ser. No. 11/251,086, which was filed Oct. 14, 2005, whoseinventors are Michael L. Kenoyer, Craig B. Malloy and Wayne E. Mock ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully andcompletely set forth herein.

U.S. Patent Application titled “High Definition Camera Pan TiltMechanism”, Ser. No. 11/251,083, which was filed Oct. 14, 2005, whoseinventors are Michael L. Kenoyer, William V. Oxford, Patrick D.Vanderwilt, Hans-Christoph Haenlein, Branko Lukic and Jonathan I.Kaplan, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as thoughfully and completely set forth herein.

FIG. 1 a illustrates an embodiment of a videoconferencing system 100.Videoconferencing system 100 may comprise a plurality of participantlocations or endpoints. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of avideoconferencing system 100 which may include a network 101, endpoints103A-103H (e.g., audio and/or videoconferencing systems), gateways130A-130B, a service provider 108 (e.g., a multipoint control unit(MCU)), a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 120, conference units105A-105D, and plain old telephone system (POTS) telephones 106A-106B.Endpoints 103C and 103D-103H may be coupled to network 101 via gateways130A and 130B, respectively, and gateways 130A and 130B may each includefirewall, network address translation (NAT), packet filter, and/or proxymechanisms, among others. Conference units 105A-105B and POTS telephones106A-106B may be coupled to network 101 via PSTN 120. In someembodiments, conference units 105A-105B may each be coupled to PSTN 120via an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) connection, and eachmay include and/or implement H.320 capabilities. In various embodiments,video and audio conferencing may be implemented over various types ofnetworked devices.

In some embodiments, endpoints 103A-103H, gateways 130A-130B, conferenceunits 105C-105D, and service provider 108 may each include variouswireless or wired communication devices that implement various types ofcommunication, such as wired Ethernet, wireless Ethernet (e.g., IEEE802.11), IEEE 802.16, paging logic, RF (radio frequency) communicationlogic, a modem, a digital subscriber line (DSL) device, a cable(television) modem, an ISDN device, an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode)device, a satellite transceiver device, a parallel or serial port businterface, and/or other type of communication device or method.

In various embodiments, the methods and/or systems described may be usedto implement connectivity between or among two or more participantlocations or endpoints, each having voice and/or video devices (e.g.,endpoints 103A-103H, conference units 105A-105D, POTS telephones106A-106B, etc.) that communicate through various networks (e.g.,network 101, PSTN 120, the Internet, etc.).

In some embodiments, endpoints 103A-103C may include voice conferencingcapabilities and include or be coupled to various audio devices (e.g.,microphones, audio input devices, speakers, audio output devices,telephones, speaker telephones, etc.). Endpoints 103D-103H may includevoice and video communications capabilities (e.g., videoconferencingcapabilities) and include or be coupled to various audio devices (e.g.,microphones, audio input devices, speakers, audio output devices,telephones, speaker telephones, etc.) and include or be coupled tovarious video devices (e.g., monitors, projectors, displays,televisions, video output devices, video input devices, cameras, etc.).In some embodiments, endpoints 103A-103H may comprise various ports forcoupling to one or more devices (e.g., audio devices, video devices,etc.) and/or to one or more networks.

In some embodiments, conference units 105A-105D may include voice and/orvideoconferencing capabilities and include or be coupled to variousaudio devices (e.g., microphones, audio input devices, speakers, audiooutput devices, telephones, speaker telephones, etc.) and/or include orbe coupled to various video devices (e.g., monitors, projectors,displays, televisions, video output devices, video input devices,cameras, etc.). In some embodiments, endpoints 103A-103H and/orconference units 105A-105D may include and/or implement various networkmedia communication capabilities. For example, endpoints 103A-103Hand/or conference units 105C-105D may each include and/or implement oneor more real time protocols, e.g., session initiation protocol (SIP),H.261, H.263, H.264, H.323, among others. In an embodiment, endpoints103A-103H may implement H.264 encoding for high definition (HD) videostreams.

In various embodiments, a codec may implement a real time transmissionprotocol. In some embodiments, a codec (which may mean short for“compressor/decompressor”) may comprise any system and/or method forencoding and/or decoding (e.g., compressing and decompressing) data(e.g., audio and/or video data). For example, communication applicationsmay use codecs to convert an analog signal to a digital signal fortransmitting over various digital networks (e.g., network 101, PSTN 120,the Internet, etc.) and to convert a received digital signal to ananalog signal. In various embodiments, codecs may be implemented insoftware, hardware, or a combination of both. Some codecs for computervideo and/or audio may include MPEG, Indeo™, and Cinepak™, among others.

In some embodiments, a videoconferencing system may be designed tooperate with network infrastructures that support T1 capabilities orless, e.g., 1.5 mega-bits per second or less in one embodiment, and 2mega-bits per second in other embodiments. The videoconferencing systemmay support HD capabilities. The term “high resolution” includesdisplays with resolution of 1280×720 pixels and higher. In oneembodiment, high-definition resolution may comprise 1280×720 progressivescans at 60 frames per second, or 1920×1080 interlaced or 1920×1080progressive. Thus, an embodiment of the present invention may comprise avideoconferencing system with HD “e.g. similar to HDTV” displaycapabilities using network infrastructures with bandwidths T1 capabilityor less. The term “high-definition” is intended to have the full breathof its ordinary meaning and includes “high resolution”.

FIG. 1 b illustrates an embodiment of four conferencing systems coupledthrough a network. For example, conferencing system 201, 301, 401, and501 may be coupled through a network 101.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of first conferencing system 201. Insome embodiments, first conferencing system 201 may have participants251, 253 and multiple audio systems (e.g., video audio system 261 andspeakerphones 205/207). The videoconferencing system may have a systemcodec 209 to manage both a speakerphone 205/207 and the variousvideoconferencing system components. The speakerphones 205/207 and othervideoconferencing system components may be coupled to the codec 209 andmay receive audio and/or video signals from the system codec 209.

In some embodiments, the participant location may include a camera 204(e.g., an HD camera) for acquiring images (e.g., of participants 253 and251) of the participant location. Other cameras are also contemplated.The participant location may also include a display 203 (e.g., an HDTVdisplay). Images acquired by the camera 204 may be displayed locally onthe display 203 and may also be encoded and transmitted to otherparticipant locations in the videoconference.

The participant location may also include a sound system 261. The soundsystem 261 may include multiple speakers including left speakers 271,center speaker 273, and right speakers 275. Other numbers of speakersand other speaker configurations may also be used. The videoconferencingsite 201 may also use one or more speakerphones 205/207 which may bedaisy chained together.

In some embodiments, the videoconferencing system components (e.g., thecamera 204, display 203, sound system 261, and speakerphones 205/207)may be coupled to a system codec 209. The system codec 209 may be placedon a desk or on a floor. Other placements are also contemplated. Thesystem codec 209 may receive audio and/or video data from a network 101.The system codec 209 may send the audio to the speakerphone 205/207and/or sound system 261 and the video to the display 203. The receivedvideo may be HD video that is displayed on the HD display 203. Thesystem codec 209 may also receive video data from the camera 204 andaudio data from the speakerphones 205/207 and transmit the video and/oraudio data over the network 101 to another conferencing system. Theconferencing system may be controlled by a participant through the userinput components (e.g., buttons) on the speakerphones 205/207 and/orremote control 250. Other system interfaces may also be used.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of second conferencing system 301. Insome embodiments, second conferencing system 301 may have a participant351, video audio system 361, codec 309, remote 313, camera 304, display303, and speakerphone 307. The video audio system 361 may comprise leftspeakers 371, center speaker 373, and right speakers 375.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of third conferencing system 401. Insome embodiments, third conferencing system 401 may have a participant451, codec 409, remote 413, display 403, camera 404, video audio system461 (including left speakers 471, center speakers 473, and rightspeakers 475), and speakerphone 407.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of fourth conferencing system 501. Insome embodiments, fourth conferencing system 501 may have participants551 a-d, 553 a-d and speakerphones 507 a-b.

In various embodiments, each of conferencing systems 201, 301, 401, and501 may be involved in a conference call. If audio from each of theother conferencing systems was reproduced in all of the audio systemcomponents at each conferencing system, the participants of theconference at each conferencing system may not be able to easily discernwhich conferencing system originated the audio currently beingreproduced. For example, if audio from conferencing system 301, 401, and501 is reproduced through video audio system 261 and speakerphones 207at conferencing system 201, participants 251 and 253 may not be able toeasily discern which conferencing system originated the current audio.In some embodiments, audio from various conferencing systems may bedistributed to various audio systems at the conferencing system tobetter enable the participants to discern who is talking For example, insome embodiments, audio from participant 351 at conferencing system 301may be reproduced through right speakers 275 at conferencing system 201.Audio from participant 451 at conferencing system 401 may be reproducedthrough center speaker 273. In some embodiments, audio from the frontparticipants 551 a, 551 b, 553 a, and 553 b at conferencing system 501may be sent through front speakerphone 207 a, and audio from backparticipants 551 c, 551 d, 553 c, 553 d may be reproduced through backspeakerphone 205 at conferencing system 201. In some embodiments, ifaudio from each of the conferencing systems is reproduced by a differentaudio system component at conferencing system 201, participants 251, 253at conferencing system 201 may be able to discern audio from a specificaudio system component as originating from a specific conferencingsystem.

In some embodiments, audio from various participants at variousconferencing systems may be reproduced on audio system componentsrelative to the location of participants at the conferencing system. Forexample, audio from participant 251 on the left side of the camera 204(facing the camera) at conferencing system 201 may be reproduced throughleft side speakers 371 and audio from right side participant 253 may bereproduced through right side speaker 375. As another example, audiofrom a participant near the camera 204 at conferencing system 201 may bereproduced through a separate set of speakers than audio from aparticipant further from the camera. In this manner, participant 351 maybe better able to discern speakers at a specific conferencing system.For example, if both participants 251 and 253 are displayed on videoscreen 303 at the same time, audio may be reproduced through speakersrelative to the location of the participant who is speaking In addition,audio from participants at other conferencing systems may be reproducedthrough various audio system components at conferencing system 301. Forexample, audio from participant 451 may be reproduced through speaker373 and audio from participants 551 a-d, 553 a-d may be reproducedthrough speakerphone 307. In some embodiments, audio from speakerphoneparticipants may be put through a speakerphone speaker and audio fromvideo participants may be put through the video sound system.

As seen in FIG. 4, audio from participants may be distributed in otherconfigurations. For example, audio from participant 251 may bereproduced through left speakers 471, and audio from participant 253 maybe reproduced through center speaker 473 to keep a spatialrepresentation between the video displayed and the audio (speakerdisplayed on the left side of the screen has corresponding audio throughthe left side speakers). Audio from participant 351 may be reproducedthrough right speakers 475, and audio from participants 551 a-d, 553 a-dmay be reproduced through speakerphone 407.

As seen in FIG. 5, audio from participants of different conferencingsystems may be reproduced by the same audio system components (e.g., ifthe number of conferencing systems exceeds the number of audio systemcomponents). For example, audio from participants 351 and 451 may bereproduced through speakerphone 507 b. Audio from participants 251 and253 may be reproduced through speakerphone 507 a.

In various embodiments, audio signals from the various conferencingsystems may contain indicators (e.g., location information)corresponding to the conferencing system that originated the audiosignal. Controls/software, e.g., found in the integrated unit/codec(209, 309, and 409) as well as other components (e.g., in the circuitryof speakerphones 507 a-b) may use the information to distribute theaudio signals to various audio system components. The audio signals maybe distributed through hardware and/or software. In some embodiments,the audio may be distributed through another part of the system. In someembodiments, conferencing systems may detect where a participant is withrespect to the system (e.g., by beamforming an audio response of anarray of microphones in a camera of the conferencing system). In someembodiments, the location of the participant with respect to the systemmay be indicated through information sent with the audio signal. Thelocation information may be used to determine which conferencingcomponents to reproduce the audio through. For example, audio fromconference participant 351 may be sent through right speakers 275 atconferencing system 201, and then through a different audio systemcomponent (e.g., speakerphone 207) if another conferencing system isadded to the conference call, or if, for some other reason, rightspeakers 275 are used for different participants. In some embodiments,audio from participant 351 may continue to be reproduced through rightspeakers 275 while audio from additional participants is also sentthrough right speakers 275.

In various embodiments, video conferencing systems may detect adirection of a participant using microphones in audio recordingcomponents. In some embodiments, circular speakerphones (e.g.,speakerphones 507 a-b) may have a circular array of microphones alongtheir perimeter and cameras (e.g., cameras 204, 304, and 404) may havemicrophones in an array in their base. In some embodiments, thesemicrophones may be used to detect the location of a participant who isspeaking For example, the microphones may be beamformed to determine anapproximate angle of the participant relative to the speakerphone(s) andcameras and then cross correlated with other beamforming information(e.g., from another device in the room) to determine a location. In someembodiments, the components may be preconfigured (e.g., an orientationof the speakerphone with respect to the participants may bepredetermined) and the preconfigured information may be used inconjunction with the beamformed audio to determine a direction of theparticipants with respect to the component (e.g., speakerphone). Thisinformation may be passed with the audio signal and used to reproducethe audio from the participant through a respective conferencingcomponent.

As another example, audio from participant 551 a may be detected atspeakerphone 507 a before the audio is detected at speakerphone 507 b.In addition, microphones in the speakerphone closest to participant 551a will detect the audio before microphones on the opposite side of thespeakerphone 507. Speakerphones 507 may be configured to work togetherto determine approximate locations of participants relative to thespeakerphones. Speakerphones 507 may detect the presence of each other(e.g., using a short burst of audio at a particular frequency that theother speakerphone may detect). In some embodiments, the speakerphonesmay be pre-aligned (e.g., using markings on the outer casings of thespeakerphones).

In some embodiments, other conference equipment may be used with aspeakerphone. For example, camera 204 may have microphones used to aimthe camera toward a participant who is speaking These microphones may beused in conjunction with the microphones in one or more speakerphones.In some embodiments, a video conferencing system may not include aspeakerphone. Microphone/microphone arrays 281 may be used in additionto or in place of the microphones on speakerphones 207. For example, ifthere are no speakerphones, the microphones/microphone arrays 281 maylocate a participant relative to the video screen. Microphones 281 mayalso be used in addition to or in place of existing speakerphones. Insome embodiments, the microphone/microphone array 281 a may detect thevoice of participant 251 before microphone/microphone array 281 b.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of reproducing an audio signal in a videoconferencing system component relative to a location of the audio signalsource, according to an embodiment. It should be noted that in variousembodiments of the methods described below, one or more of the elementsdescribed may be performed concurrently, in a different order thanshown, or may be omitted entirely. Other additional elements may also beperformed as desired.

At 601, audio from a first participant at a first video conferencingsystem may be detected.

At 603, a relative location of the audio from the first participant maybe determined. For example, determining the location may includedetermining if the first participant is on a left side or right side ofthe first conferencing system (e.g., with respect to a component such asa camera of the first video conferencing system). As another example,determining the location may include determining if the firstparticipant is near a front or a rear of the first conferencing system.In some embodiments, arrays of microphones may be used (e.g., throughbeamforming) to determine a location of the participant relative to theconferencing system.

At 605, an audio signal and location information may be sent to a secondconferencing system. In some embodiments, the location information mayinclude a conferencing system identifier and/or relative location of theparticipant at the conferencing system (e.g, with respect to thecamera). In some embodiments, information may be sent with the audiosignal to identify the first conferencing system. The conferencingsystem sending the audio may send the location information identifyingit to the receiving conferencing system or a management system (eitherat one of the conferencing systems or a stand-alone unit) may keep trackof what audio is originating from which conferencing systems and maysend location information to the sending and/or receiving conferencingsystem.

At 607, the audio signal may be reproduced through a component of thesecond conferencing system depending on the identity of the conferencingsystem sending the audio and/or depending on the location of the source(e.g., the first participant) relative to the conferencing systemsending the audio signal. In some embodiments, the audio component usedrelative to a location may be predetermined (e.g., right speakers 275may be pre-assigned to audio from conferencing system 301). In someembodiments, participants may dynamically determine which components touse for the various signals (relative to location information with thesignal). In some embodiments, the audio components to use for eachincoming audio signal may be determined by software in the codec oranother management system.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of receiving an audio signal and locationinformation for reproduction of the audio signal, according to anembodiment. It should be noted that in various embodiments of themethods described below, one or more of the elements described may beperformed concurrently, in a different order than shown, or may beomitted entirely. Other additional elements may also be performed asdesired.

At 701, audio may be received at the first conferencing system from asecond conferencing system.

At 703, location information may be received respective to the receivedaudio. For example, the location information may be determined using amicrophone array at the second conferencing system (the audio responsefrom the microphone array may be beamformed to determine the locationinformation of an audio source relative to the microphone array. Thelocation information may also (or as an alternate) indicate the videoconferencing system which is sending the audio.

At 705, the received audio may be reproduced at the first conferencingsystem through at least one speaker of a plurality of speakers, whereinthe at least one speaker of the plurality of speakers is determinedbased on the received location information.

Embodiments of a subset or all (and portions or all) of the above may beimplemented by program instructions stored in a memory medium or carriermedium and executed by a processor. A memory medium may include any ofvarious types of memory devices or storage devices. The term “memorymedium” is intended to include an installation medium, e.g., a CompactDisc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), floppy disks, or tape device; a computersystem memory or random access memory such as Dynamic Random AccessMemory (DRAM), Double Data Rate Random Access Memory (DDR RAM), StaticRandom Access Memory (SRAM), Extended Data Out Random Access Memory (EDORAM), Rambus Random Access Memory (RAM), etc.; or a non-volatile memorysuch as a magnetic media, e.g., a hard drive, or optical storage. Thememory medium may comprise other types of memory as well, orcombinations thereof In addition, the memory medium may be located in afirst computer in which the programs are executed, or may be located ina second different computer that connects to the first computer over anetwork, such as the Internet. In the latter instance, the secondcomputer may provide program instructions to the first computer forexecution. The term “memory medium” may include two or more memorymediums that may reside in different locations, e.g., in differentcomputers that are connected over a network. In some embodiments, acomputer system at a respective participant location may include amemory medium(s) on which one or more computer programs or softwarecomponents according to one embodiment of the present invention may bestored. For example, the memory medium may store one or more programsthat are executable to perform the methods described herein. The memorymedium may also store operating system software, as well as othersoftware for operation of the computer system.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects ofthe invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art in view ofthis description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed asillustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled inthe art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to beunderstood that the forms of the invention shown and described hereinare to be taken as embodiments. Elements and materials may besubstituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts andprocesses may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may beutilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in theart after having the benefit of this description of the invention.Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the followingclaims.

1. A conferencing system, comprising: at least one first speaker; atleast one second speaker; and a network port, wherein the conferencingsystem is coupled to a second and a third conferencing system over anetwork via the network port, wherein the conferencing system, thesecond conferencing system, and the third conferencing system areconfigured to communicate in a conference; wherein audio from the secondconferencing system and the third conferencing system is reproducedthrough the at least one first speaker and the at least one secondspeaker based on a position of the source of the audio.
 2. Theconferencing system of claim 1, wherein the source of the audio is aparticipant at the second conferencing system, wherein the audio fromthe participant at the second conferencing system is reproduced throughthe at least one first speaker if the participant is on a right side ofan audio recording component at the second conferencing system and isreproduced through the at least one second speaker if the participant ison a left side of the audio recording component of the secondconferencing system.
 3. The conferencing system of claim 1, wherein theat least one first speaker comprises a left speaker, wherein the atleast one second speaker comprises a right speaker.
 4. The conferencingsystem of claim 1, wherein the source of the audio is a participant atthe second conferencing system, wherein the audio from the participantat the second conferencing system is reproduced through the at least onefirst speaker if the participant is on a front side of an audiorecording component at the second conferencing system and is reproducedthrough the at least one second speaker if the participant is on a backside of the audio recording component of the second conferencing system.5. A method for providing audio in a conference, comprising: receivingaudio at a first conferencing system from a second conferencing system;receiving audio at the first conferencing system from a thirdconferencing system; reproducing the received audio at the firstconferencing system through at least one first speaker and at least onesecond speaker, wherein said reproducing the received audio comprisesreproducing audio from the second conferencing system and the thirdconferencing system based on a position of the source of the audio. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the source of the audio received from thesecond conferencing system is a participant at the second conferencingsystem, wherein said reproducing the received audio comprisesreproducing the received audio from the participant at the secondconferencing system through the at least one first speaker if theparticipant is on a right side of an audio recording component at thesecond conferencing system and reproducing the received audio throughthe at least one second speaker if the participant is on a left side ofthe audio recording component of the second conferencing system.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the at least one first speaker comprises aleft speaker, wherein the at least one second speaker comprises a rightspeaker.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the source of the audioreceived from the second conferencing system is a participant at thesecond conferencing system, wherein said reproducing the received audiocomprises reproducing the received audio from the participant at thesecond conferencing system through the at least one first speaker if theparticipant is on a front side of an audio recording component at thesecond conferencing system and reproducing the received audio throughthe second speaker if the participant is on a back side of the audiorecording component of the second conferencing system.
 9. Anon-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing programinstructions for providing audio in a conference, wherein the programinstructions are executable to: receive audio at a first conferencingsystem from a second conferencing system; receive audio at the firstconferencing system from a third conferencing system; reproduce thereceived audio at the first conferencing system through at least onefirst speaker and at least one second speaker, wherein said reproducingthe received audio comprises reproducing audio from the secondconferencing system and the third conferencing system based on aposition of the source of the audio.
 10. The non-transitory, computeraccessible memory medium of claim 9, wherein the source of the audioreceived from the second conferencing system is a participant at thesecond conferencing system, wherein said reproducing the received audiocomprises reproducing the received audio from the participant at thesecond conferencing system through the at least one first speaker if theparticipant is on a right side of an audio recording component at thesecond conferencing system and reproducing the received audio throughthe at least one second speaker if the participant is on a left side ofthe audio recording component of the second conferencing system.
 11. Thenon-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 10, whereinthe at least one first speaker comprises a left speaker, wherein the atleast one second speaker comprises a right speaker.
 12. Thenon-transitory, computer accessible memory medium of claim 9, whereinthe source of the audio received from the second conferencing system isa participant at the second conferencing system, wherein saidreproducing the received audio comprises reproducing the received audiofrom the participant at the second conferencing system through the atleast one first speaker if the participant is on a front side of anaudio recording component at the second conferencing system andreproducing the received audio through the second speaker if theparticipant is on a back side of the audio recording component of thesecond conferencing system.